Device for limiting climb and dive angles in a torpedo



July 26, 1960 s. KQWALYSHYN, JR., EIAL 2,946,863

DEVICE FOR LIMITING CLIMB AND DIVE ANGLES IN A TORPEDO Filed Dec. 9, 1953 2 SheetsSheet 1 a Q Q m o 0 r0 9 N 1 l o qn "3 m I l0 g Ill g- Q IO I w (D I 0 ID ID a x n N (D 5 B" N r 9 N a N m 7 IO 5 2 I IIT/Ll Q IO N Q m g N a g 0 ,u 5 N '5 m "l 1H l ;i w INVENTORS N STEPHEN KOWALYSHYNJR. o OLIVER EIKEL, JR. w 4 8 Q J Q RONALD e. WARREN Q m s BY WM N (\l m N m m ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR LIMITING CLIMB AND DIVE ANGLES IN A TORPEDO Filed Dec. 9, 1953, Ser. No. 397,285 4 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61:48)

This invention relates to torpedoes and more particu larly to improvements in apparatus for limiting the pitch angle thereof during climb and dive along the path of movement through water.

Some torpedo control requirements include limiting the pitch angle of climb and dive to certain values. These may be to prevent gyro tumbling, improve fire control accuracy, and prevention of broaching on climbing from deep depths to shallow running depths. For an experimental torpedo, in particular one that may use depth error, rate of depth error, and angular rate error as the depth course control elements, an angle limiter also provides additional protection in case of malfunction of the main control.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved torpedo pitch angle limiting apparatus which is highly sensitive in its operation.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the foregoing type which may be readily adjusted to vary the up and down pitch angles which it senses.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the type referred to which utilizes a damped pendulum for preventing erratic operation.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type referred to which is unaffected in operation by usual magnitudes or torpedo roll. e

Other objects are to provide apparatus of the type referred to which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical of manufacture.

Still further objects, advantages and salient features will become more apparent from the description to follow, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section taken on line 11, Fig. 2, portions being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2, Fig. 5, portions being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33, Fig. 1, portions being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1, portions being broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan in the plane 55, Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the subject of the "nited States Patent C) at their upper ends to the lower face of the cover plate by flat head machine screws 23 which threadedly engage bosses24, 24a, and a side plate 25 secured to walls 22, 22a by similar screws 26. A pair'of plates 27, 27a are s'ecured to plate 25 by pairs of machine screws 28,28 and 28a, 28a, these plates slideably fitting within and filling corresponding slots or apertures 29, 2921 in walls, 22, 22a.

Pendulum 12 comprises a sheet metal arm 30 of brass or the like which is brazed to a brass tube 31 which latter carries a pairof ball bearings32, 32a, the inner races of which are supported by a shaft 33 havinga flange 34'thereon secured to wall 21 by a plurality of machine screws 35. The lower end of the arm is provided with a pin 36 and lateral projection 37 for anchoring a lead weight 38 thereto, the latter being cast onto the armin a suitable mold.

, Contact 13 is a roller rotatably supported by a pintle 39 brazed or soldered at its ends to the central portion of the bight of a resilient U-shaped member 40, the bight being provided with a suitable slot 41 to receive the upper portion of the roller. Leg portions 42, '42'of member 40 are secured to ends of a threaded stud 43 by a pair of screws 44, 44,the stud threadedly engaging a lateral projecting portion 45 of arm 30 and locked thereto by a lock nut 46. Roller 13a is supported in identical manner, the only difference being that lock nut 46a abuts the opposite face of projecting portion 45.

Member l4.is formed of electrical insulating material and secured near its ends to bosses 47, 47a" integrally invention comprises, in general, an outer casing 10, an

inner open bottom housing 11, a pendulum 12 carrying a pair of rotatable electrical contacts 13, 13a and a segmental commutator-like member 14 along which the contacts roll.

Outer casing 10 is a rectangular open top aluminum can formed by upstanding parallel spaced walls 16, 16a, similar spaced walls 17, 17a and a bottom wall 18 welded to the lower edges of the upstanding walls. An outwardly projecting flange 19 surrounds the upstanding walls at their upper ends and is joined thereto by welding.

Inner casing 11 is formed of electrical insulating material, such as Micarta, and comprises a top cover plate 20, integrally formed upstanding walls 21, 22, 22a, secured formed on walls 22, 22a, by a pair of screws 48,4311v which extend through elongated slots 49, 49a in member 14 and threadedly engage the bosses. A metallic contact plate 50a is secured to the upper portion of member 14'by a screw 51 which is contacted by roller 13 when the torpedo pitch angle reaches one value in one direction of pitch, and a similar plate 50 is similarly secured thereto which is contacted by roller 13a when the torpedo pitch angle reaches another value in the opposite direction of pitch. The upper face of member 14 and the contacts just described are circular with radius equal to the distance between the axis of shaft 33 and the point of contact of the rollers with member 14. A metallic strip 52 electrically connects contact 50 with a wire 53, the

upper end of the latter being secured to a terminal 54.'

tube 31 by a screw 56 to which one end of a flexible wire 57 is connected, its other end being connected to terminal 58.

In the initial adjustment of the apparatus, casing 10 and side plate 25 with its attached plates 27, 27a may be removed from the remainder of the device and studs 43, 43:: may be adjusted in their axial directions of movement to adjust the precise angle between the vertical position of the pendulum and contacts 50a, 50. After adjustment, lock nuts 46, 46a and screws 44 are tightened, the apertures 29, 29a providing access openings for suitable tools to effect the adjustments.

While side plate 25 is removed, member 14 may also be adjusted vertically, the elongated slots 49, 49a and screws 48, 48a, previously described being for this purpose. As will be apparent, this adjustment varies the frictional engagement of the rollers with member 14. Side plate 25 is A light silicone fluid fills the casing providing viscous damping of the relative swinging movement between the pendulum and its supporting structure.

The device is mounted in the torpedo in such manner that the relative movement of swing between the pendulum and the torpedo is in the vertical or pitch plane thereof. When the torpedo assumes. a dive or climb angle sufficient to efiect contact of roller 13 ond 13a with the corresponding contact 50a, 50 an electrical circuit is established between terminal 58 and one of terminals 54, 54a, such circuits providing signals to actuate the torpedo elevators and steer the torpedo in an opposite pitch direction.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A dive and climb angle limit switch for torpedoes, comprising; a closed casing, a pendulum disposed within the casing having a downwardly extending arm, the upper end of which is pivoted to the casing by an anti-friction bearing, the lower end having a weight afiixed thereto, fluid filling the casing for damping relative movement between the casing and pendulum, a lateral projecting portion on the arm intermediate its ends, a pair of spaced resilient contact carrying members carried by said projecting portion, a rotatable roller carried by each member, a commutator-like member of electrical insulating material having arcuate upper surfaces along which the rollers are adapted to roll, a pair of electrical contacts carried by the commutator member, on which the rollers 4 are also adapted town, one being disposed in spaced angular relationship to the vertical position of the pendulum at one side thereof, and the other similarly disposed at the opposite side thereof, and an electrical circuit including said arm, lateral projection and contact carrying members, and one or theother of said electrical contacts.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said resilient contact carrying members are adjustably carried by said lateral projection for movement relative thereto to adjust the climb and dive angles at which the rollers engage their respective electrical contacts.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said commutator member is adjustably carried within the easing for movement in a substantially vertical direction, whereby the rolling contact urge between its upper surface and the rollers may be adjusted by adjusting the loading on the resilient contact carrying members.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said casing comprises a can, rectangular in cross section, having a bottom and an open top with an outwardly projecting flange surrounding its top, and a housing disposed within the can, rectangular in cross section and having an open bottom and a top cover plate with a flange mating with the first named flange, and means for securing the flanges together to render the can fluid tight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,062 Johnson Mar. 14, 1916 1,378,291 Sperry May 17, 1921 1,806,117 Peterson May 19, 1931 2,547,199 Dezzani Apr. 3, 1951 

